Stephen C. Ananian †

Stephen C. Ananian, who flew P-51 Mustangs with the 339th Fighter Group during World War II passed away on June 28, 2017.

Stephen was born on Christmas Day 1922 and joined the Army Air Corps after Pearl Harbor. He was deployed to the UK with the 339th FG and was shot down on his first mission, spending over an hour in the icy waters of the North Sea before being rescued. He later returned to his unit and flew 62 combat missions, and even shot down a Messerschmitt Me 262 jet in February 1945.

After the war, Stephen returned to the US and married Isabel Gefairjian in 1946. He worked for over 35 years in the photoengraving industry and was very active in his community. He was also the president of the 339th Fighter Group Association for 8 years, and was the editor of their quarterly newsletter, finishing the final one only a few days before his passing.

He is survived by his two sons Clifford and Stephen Jr, along with 5 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.